If you would like to contribute to this important cause, please click the "Donate Now" button below & indicate that the donation is for Soundwatch ... or e-mail the Soundwatch Coordinator at soundwatch@whalemuseum.org, or call (360) 378-4710, ext. 33.
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Soundwatch Boater Education Program -- Summary of Vessel Incidents
While on the water, Soundwatch intercepts and contacts vessels to prevent potential disturbances; counts vessels near whales according to type and activity; and observes all vessels near whales to determine if vessel behavior is contrary to voluntary guidelines and/or regulations and records all such behaviors as ‘vessel incidents’ using laser range finders, binoculars and photo/video. The Soundwatch Boater Education Program is providing you with a summary report of observations made by trained Soundwatch personnel of all vessel and aircraft operators operating contrary to current regional marine wildlife regulations and guidelines as recognized by NOAA Fisheries (NOAA), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department, the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA), and the regional monitoring and education programs: Friday Harbor-based Soundwatch and the Victoria-based Straitwatch-South. In addition, vessel operators are also held accountable to the Pacific Whale Watch Association’s annual guidelines and operational standards as well as regional marine protection areas. Soundwatch strives to interpret the regulations and guidelines in accordance with the above agencies and organizations as presented at annual PWWA General Meetings and Skippers Training Sessions. Vessel incident data is utilized to characterize types of vessels and incident behaviors most commonly seen around the whales and is used to generate future strategies for whale watch management in the region including modifying existing guidelines and evaluating the need to establish regulations. Soundwatch observed vessel incidents are best interpreted when viewed as annual percentages that show trends rather than as raw numbers (see Soundwatch Data Reports). Soundwatch compiles incident data and sends out weekly feedback reports on Soundwatch observed recreational and commercial vessel operator behaviors contrary to current guidelines and/or regulations. Full reports are sent to Pacific Whale Watch Association member companies, federal and state enforcement agencies and partner monitoring groups. Full Reports contain all observations of all vessel incidents as well as overall summaries. Observations of incidents that are repeated, flagrant and potentially illegal are sent immediately to the appropriate enforcement agencies. Annual and Weekly Vessel Incident Summaries are posted here.
Summary of Vessel Incidents: Current Summary - - August 12-22, 2010 Additional summaries by week: 2010:
2009:
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The Whale Museum is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization registered with the Secretary of State in Olympia, Washington. b |